Striving to live as simply as possible so that we can enjoy the sacred blessings of every single day.

xx

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Eight

Dear Maddie,

Eight whole years old already. Today I watched some videos of you when you
were just three. Its amazing to see that
same little girl shining through in the beautiful young lady you are
today. Let me tell you a little bit
about you.

Creativity is your jam.
You love to color, to draw, to paint.
You have such an eye for beauty and design. I enlisted your help in decorating our living
room bookshelves recently and you astounded me with your eye for placement and
balance. Sometimes I will find you just
quietly coloring or drawing in your room.
When we do something crafty you never ask for ideas or help. You just inherently know what to do and it
always turns out beautifully. You
colored this gorgeous Christmas tree this December at school. It took you longer than everyone else in the
class, but when it was done it was a sight to behold. This is so you. You do not rush and you do your work well.

Your creativity is not limited to works of art. You are also a tremendous actress. I’ve heard that at school you are quiet and
calm and almost reserved. The opposite
is true at home. You can be so very
silly and outlandish that I often call you a muppet.

School is not a challenge for you, academically
speaking. Your reading abilities are
years ahead of your grade level. I never
worry about you getting good grades or passing a hard test. You just work at it and catch concepts
quickly. And all that is nice, but what
I love is how you care to help the other kids in your class when they need
help.

Friend-wise this was a harder year for you. Your best friend moved away and it left you
with some questions about what to do with that void. Many times you worried that you had no
friends. But every time I see you with
your class someone is giving you a hug or greeting you with a smile and a
shout. I can see how all these other
kids love being your friend and that makes me happiest of all.

Girl, you love getting dressed up. I never really know what you will wear on
days when it is up to you to pick out an outfit. Most Saturdays you make an amazing fashion
statement. You love to change your
earrings to match your outfit. You have
no interest in looking sporty. You want
to wear long flowy dresses and great twirling skirts. You have a pair of high heels that you think
are the greatest thing on earth. And you
love having your hair done up in braids or buns or high ponytails. You are really really fun to dress and shop
with.

This year in particular you have taken more of an interest
in playing with little kids. You love to
be in the nursery at church. You are
unfailingly patient with little ones, including your brother. He adores you for your patience and
willingness to do what he wants to do.
Sometimes you dig in the dirt with him. Sometimes you create a massive tent to share
with him. Sometimes you crawl on your
knees to play with tractors with him.
You are an amazing big sister.

You are also an amazing little sister. As the years have gone on it is sometimes
more challenging for you to not feel threatened or shadowed by your big
sister. Reagan gets to do all things
first and sometimes that rubs you the wrong way. But she has a love for you that runs deep and
true. When you struggled to find someone
to play with at recess, she played with you.
You love to have sleepovers in each other’s rooms. You love to color in your Harry Potter
coloring books together. You love to
play legos together. The two of you are
a great pair – both strong in your own way and so similar but yet so different.

You are effortlessly beautiful and sweetly vivacious. You do not overwhelm others with words but
come alongside with a servant heart. You
have so much control of your emotions at school but we see the highs and lows
at home where you feel safest. You love
to laugh and to smile. You adore your
Aunt Amy. You love to bake and to watch
home decorating shows. You love skittles
and M&Ms. You like school but still
love being home with me. You love to
snuggle.

Maybe these letters sound the same year after year. But each year I see a little more of your
personality shine through and I can glimpse a little better the lovely woman
you will one day be. I’m excited for your
tomorrows, Maddie. I celebrate 8 years
because with you those 8 years have been so sweet. I’m not sad when I look back on videos of you
when you were little. There were so many
moments in the past 8 years that were so fun and sweet with you – I can’t be
sad about all the good that we have enjoyed because of you.

I became your Mom thinking, hoping and praying to mold you
and make you into a wonderful person.
But God had already put all this wonderfulness inside of you and I find
myself being molded and shaped by you.
You teach me how to love better, more intentionally and with more
patience. You are a gift.

Do you know how much I love you? Have you glimpsed it in big and small ways
these last 8 years? I have wrapped up my
love in so many moments and hugs and notes and tucked them all in your
heart. I hope you trust it there
always. I hope you always rest in
knowing how cherished you are. I hope
you trust in the way God does good and wonderful work. You are proof of His goodness and love to
me. What a joy you are to His heart and
mine.

No comments:

My Peeps

About Me

I am 30-some years old and have been happily married to my Hubby, Brian, for 12 years. We have two little girls and one boy - Reagan, Maddie and Hunter. I am believer that my King, Jesus Christ, came to die so that I might live in service of The King.